Rotary snap switch



My s, 1928.

-RQTARY SNAP SWITCH Filed April 9. 1926 l 1,669,374 v. R. DEsPARp Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

"VICTOR It. DESPABD, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO McGILL` MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, A. CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

ROTARY SNAP SWITCH.

Application nled April 9, 1928. Serial No. 100,867.

My '..invention relates to rotary snap switches and more particularly to anv extremely small switch ol this type.

It is a purpose ot my invention to provide 6 a rotary snap switch that is very compact,

so that the same can be placed in position in fixtures and other devices where only a small amount of space is provided. In

order to accomplish this a new and improved construction ot' movable contact means is provided that occupies a minimum of space and which is so constructed that it will be within the limits of safety required of a device of this character.

More particularly it is a purpose of my invention to provide a Vswitch mechanism having stationary contacts with a movable contact member cooperating with said stationary contacts and means for rotating said movable Contact member comprising an operating member and an insulating member keying said operating member .to the contact member, so that said contact member is rotated upon rotation of the operating member. The movable contact member is preferably made in as small a manner as possible, preferably comprising a body portion having a central flange portion providing a channel therein and winged portions that engage with the stationary contacts.

The insulating key member preferably comprises a rectangular portion that engages between the flanges of the movable contact member and a smaller rectangular portion that engages in a slot in the actuating member. The key member is preferably provided with a shoulderfat the junction of the two rectangular portions against which an insulating washer is adapted to seat, said insulating washer'having the end ot a compression spring bearing thereagainst for yieldingly holding the movable contact member 1n contact with the stationary contacts. Other objects -and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the accompanying drawings proceeds. However, I desire lto have it distinctly under-` stood that I do not intend to limit myself tothe exact details shown or described but that I intend to include as part of my 1nvention all such obvious changes land modi-y cations of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

In-the drawings:

Fig. 1 is avertical sectional view of my improved switch mechanism taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 2 is a viewtaken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed elevation of the movable contact member vand the insulating key member associated therewith.-

Referring in detail to the drawings, my improvedv rotary switch mechanism comprises an insulating body portion 10 having a recess 11 therein that is provided with a substantially centrally located circular depression 12 and with an annular series of inclined shoulders or ratchet faces 13 having the gradually inclined portions 11i andthe more sharply inclined portions 15. Engaging a pair of oppositely disposed faces 14 are the stationary contact members 16 which have outwardly extending portions 1T which lie in -a plurality of planes and extend around the shoulders formed by the material 18 of the member 10 between the recess 1l and the `recesses 19 in which the tubular portions 2O of the contact 1G lie, said tubular portions having the ends 2l of the con ductors 22 mounted therein, said conductors 22 lying inv grooves 23`in the body portion 10. A

Cooperating with the body portion l0 is the cover member 24, an insulating gasket 25 beingmounted between the cover 24 and the body portion` 10 and said cover being held in position `by any suitable securing means such as the screws 26. It will be noted that the cover 24 holds the contacts 16 inY proper position due to the peculiar shape of the portions 17 thereof and that said contacts are insulated from the cover by means of the gasket 25.

Coo erating with the stationary .contact 16 is t e movable contact member 27 which is provided with a central portion having a pair of flanges 28 defining a channel in which is received the rectangular end portion 29 of the insulating key member 30 The. ortion 29is of an elongated rectangular s ape so as to fit substantially within thechannel formed between the anges 28.

The contact member 27 is further provided with a pair of wing like portions 31 which are inclined, as will be clear from Figs. 1

jection 32 and having the end portion of the.

coil compression spring 35 bearing thereagainst. The reduced ortion 32 of' the member 30 is received wit in a slot 36 in the operating member 37, whereby the key member 30 is turned thus turning the contact member 27. As the contact member 27`is turned in a clockwise direction the -same is cammed upwardly by the inclined faces 14 against the compression of the spring 35 and is dropped downwardly with snap action when it engages with the faces 15 due to the compression of the spring 35. A

Means is provided whereby the operating member 37 1s rotated in only a clockwise direction. In order to do this the enlargement or head 38 on the member 37.is provided against which the collar 39 which is slidably mounted on the member 37 bears, the collar 39 being held in engagement with the head 38 by the compression spring 35. A channel or groove 40 is provided in the member 38 throughwhich a tooth 41 on the collar 36 projects. The actuating nger piece 42'is provided with a transverse slot 43 with whichthe tooth 41 is adapted to engage, it bein \obvious that upon rotation of the mem er 42 in one direction, the tooth 41 will engage with the slot 43, while upon rotation in the opposite direction, the inclined face 44 thereof will cause the same to ride out of the slot 43, vmoving the member 36 away from the member 38 against the action of the s ring 35. The actuating member 42 is he d in position by means of the'screwthreaded member 45 .which screwthreadedly engages with the member 37, the member 42 being rotatable on the member 45 except when the tooth 41 engages with the recess or slot 43. The actuating means is, of course mounted upon the screwthreaded tubular member 46, which is mounted upon the cover member 44 in any suitable manner, and which is shouldered at 47 to provide a bearing for thehead 38.

From the above,`it will be seen that a very compact and simple switch mechanism is provided. The body portion of the switch mechanism being extremely thin and small at the same time snap action is obtained and the required acing of the contacts when 1n openV circult position also is obtained.

neeaaie Furthermore, the actuating means is thoroughly insulated from the live contacts. Having thus described my inventlon, what I desire to claim and secure by U. S. Letters Patent is: n

1. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts,'a movable contact cooperating therewith, said movable contact having a channelled portion, an insulating member having a portion fitting in said channelled portion, means urging said insulating member toward said movable contact, and an operi ating member engaging said insulating member to rotate said insulating member and said movable contact.

2. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, a movable contact cooperating therewith, said movable contact having a recess therein, an insulating member having a portion engaging said recess,and an operatingl member having a slot inthe end thereof, said insulating member having a projection seated in said slot.

3. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, a movable contact cooperating therewith, said movable contact having a channelled portion, an insulating member having a portlon fitting in said channelled portion, and an operating member having a slot in the end thereof, said insulating member having a projection loosely seated in said slot.

4. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, a vmovable contact cooperating therewith, said movable contact having a recess therein, an insulating member having a portionV engaging said recess, an operating member having a slot in the end thereof, a coil spring embracing said operating member and an insulating washer mounted on lsaid spring, said insulating. member having a. i

projection entering said slot and said insulatlng member having a shoulder against which said washer bears.

' 6. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, amovable'contact member cooperating therewith, said contact member having a pair of laterally projecting wings for en- '125.

gaging said stationary contacts and a central iianged portion' providing a channel in.

said member and operatin means engaging 1n said channel for actuatlng 'said movable contact member. 1

7. In aswitch mechanism an insulating Aportions and an insulating washer mounted on said key member in engagement with said shoulder.

8. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, a movable contact member cooperating therewith, said contact member having a pair of laterally projecting wings and a central flanged portion providing a channel in said member, an insulating key member having a rectangular `end portion 'entering the channelled portion of said contact membei' and resilient means pressing` said key member into the channelled portion.

9. In'a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, a movable contact member cooperating therewith, said contact member having a pair of laterally rojectin wings and a central flanged portion provi ing a channel '1n sald member, an operating member having a slot in the end thereof and an insulating key member having a rectangular end portion entering-the channelled portion of said contact member, and having a reduced rectangular end portion engaging in said slot defining a shoulder on said key member and means engaging said shoulder to retain said first named rectangular end portion in said channelled portion.

10. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacta a movable contact member cooperating therewith, said contact member having av pair of laterally projectin wings and a central flanged portion provi ing a channel in said member, an operating member having a slot in the end thereof, an insulating key member having a rectangular end portion entering the channelled portion of 40 said contact member, and having a reduced rectangular end portion 'engaglng in said slot defining a shoulder on said key member, an insulatin washer on said key member bearing agalnst said shoulder and a coil spring embracing said operating member and having one end in engagement with said washer to yieldingly press said movable contact member into engagement with said stationary contacts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of March A. D., 1926.

VICTOR R. DESPARD. 

